Barcelona a proper test for F1's rules

David Coulthard thinks the Spanish Grand Prix will provide the greatest test yet for Formula 1's current regulations. He can't wait to find out if DRS, KERS and degrading tyres will turn the usual procession into an all-action affair

This weekend's race in Spain is going to be a litmus test for Formula 1 2011's regulations. The Circuit de Catalunya is F1's proving ground because it's been used so much for testing. Historically, grands prix here have been predictable, but this year the racing has been anything but.

It's all about tyre management and getting in that one-second window for the DRS deployment, just as previous eras were about fuel management and use of turbo overboost. It's interesting to follow the debate on whether DRS and KERS have their place in F1. The purists might say no, but the people who got turned-off by F1's predictability would disagree.